How does a tomato leaf infested with a spider mite look?

How does a tomato leaf infested with a spider mite look? - briefly

A tomato leaf attacked by spider mites displays a stippled, yellow‑white speckling on the upper surface and fine silk webbing on the underside. The injury often bronzes leaf margins and can cause early leaf drop.

How does a tomato leaf infested with a spider mite look? - in detail

A tomato leaf attacked by spider mites shows a distinct set of symptoms. The upper surface often develops a fine, stippled pattern of pale or bronze speckles where the mites have pierced cells and removed chlorophyll. On the underside, the same discoloration appears more pronounced, sometimes forming a mosaic of light‑green to yellow patches.

The damage expands outward from the point of initial feeding, creating irregularly shaped spots that may merge into larger necrotic areas. As the infestation progresses, the leaf margins may curl upward or downward, and the entire blade can become distorted or twisted.

A thin, silvery webbing may be visible, especially along the leaf veins and in the leaf axils, indicating a severe population. In advanced stages, the leaf may exhibit premature senescence, turning uniformly yellow or brown before falling off the plant.

Typical characteristics include:

  • Minute, moving specks (0.2–0.4 mm) visible with a magnifying lens.
  • Stippling that starts on the lower surface and spreads upward.
  • Fine, web-like structures along veins and leaf folds.
  • Curling or rolling of leaf edges.
  • Progressive chlorosis leading to leaf drop.

These visual cues allow rapid identification of spider‑mite damage on tomato foliage.